Narrative:

Our airline uses a common cockpit checklist for the medium large transport type 3 and type 4 series aircraft. In the usual rush to get everything done before takeoff (our gates are in very close proximity to runway 24L) we inadvertently set the takeoff flaps to 1 degree versus the required 5 degrees for type 4 series aircraft. Upon advancing the throttles to takeoff power, the takeoff warning horn sounded. The captain closed the throttles and, at taxi speed, we reset the flaps to the proper 5 degree setting. With 10500' of runway remaining, and with good WX we elected to continue the takeoff. We were at a low gross weight also. The takeoff and subsequent flight continued to destination west/O further incident. Since we tend to switch back and forth between type 3 and type 4, there is often little to remind us we are in a type 4 and need to use the flaps 5 degree setting for takeoff. (The majority of the time is spent flying the type 3 series, which tends to reinforce our habit of flying the takeoff at 1 degree). Additionally, the cockpit checklist is identical for both types. Consequently one can run all preflight checks in compliance with the checklist and still not have the proper setting for takeoff. The printed response is number degree, green light/detent for the common checklist. While pilots should notice that they are flying a 4 series it is easy to set the wrong takeoff flap setting, especially if rushed. My solution to this is to print the checklists used in the type 4 on a blue versus white paper stock. This will visly alert the pilot that if he hadn't already noticed, he was flying a type 4 aircraft. Supplemental information from acn 171042. I would like to see a checklist designed more specific to alert crews they were operating in a type 4 aircraft as the flight panel are identical for both type aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW HAD TO REDUCE TKOF POWER AT THE START OF TKOF BECAUSE THE TKOF WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THEY HAD THE WRONG FLAPS SETTING FOR THE ACFT TYPE.

Narrative: OUR AIRLINE USES A COMMON COCKPIT CHKLIST FOR THE MLG TYPE 3 AND TYPE 4 SERIES ACFT. IN THE USUAL RUSH TO GET EVERYTHING DONE BEFORE TKOF (OUR GATES ARE IN VERY CLOSE PROX TO RWY 24L) WE INADVERTENTLY SET THE TKOF FLAPS TO 1 DEG VERSUS THE REQUIRED 5 DEGS FOR TYPE 4 SERIES ACFT. UPON ADVANCING THE THROTTLES TO TKOF PWR, THE TKOF WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE CAPT CLOSED THE THROTTLES AND, AT TAXI SPD, WE RESET THE FLAPS TO THE PROPER 5 DEG SETTING. WITH 10500' OF RWY REMAINING, AND WITH GOOD WX WE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TKOF. WE WERE AT A LOW GROSS WEIGHT ALSO. THE TKOF AND SUBSEQUENT FLT CONTINUED TO DEST W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. SINCE WE TEND TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH BTWN TYPE 3 AND TYPE 4, THERE IS OFTEN LITTLE TO REMIND US WE ARE IN A TYPE 4 AND NEED TO USE THE FLAPS 5 DEG SETTING FOR TKOF. (THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IS SPENT FLYING THE TYPE 3 SERIES, WHICH TENDS TO REINFORCE OUR HABIT OF FLYING THE TKOF AT 1 DEG). ADDITIONALLY, THE COCKPIT CHKLIST IS IDENTICAL FOR BOTH TYPES. CONSEQUENTLY ONE CAN RUN ALL PREFLT CHKS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHKLIST AND STILL NOT HAVE THE PROPER SETTING FOR TKOF. THE PRINTED RESPONSE IS NUMBER DEG, GREEN LIGHT/DETENT FOR THE COMMON CHKLIST. WHILE PLTS SHOULD NOTICE THAT THEY ARE FLYING A 4 SERIES IT IS EASY TO SET THE WRONG TKOF FLAP SETTING, ESPECIALLY IF RUSHED. MY SOLUTION TO THIS IS TO PRINT THE CHKLISTS USED IN THE TYPE 4 ON A BLUE VERSUS WHITE PAPER STOCK. THIS WILL VISLY ALERT THE PLT THAT IF HE HADN'T ALREADY NOTICED, HE WAS FLYING A TYPE 4 ACFT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 171042. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CHKLIST DESIGNED MORE SPECIFIC TO ALERT CREWS THEY WERE OPERATING IN A TYPE 4 ACFT AS THE FLT PANEL ARE IDENTICAL FOR BOTH TYPE ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.